We are officially 19 days removed from Game 7 of the opening round of the 2021 NHL playoffs where the Montreal Canadiens shocked the Toronto Maple Leafs to take the series with a 3-1 win. Was it really a shock though? I mean, maybe to the naive new class of Leafs Nation, but for those
Auston Matthews
In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I’ll share some of the news emerging from the Maple Leafs’ organization. As well, I’ll look at and comment about a new rumor that suggests Zach Hyman will likely be moving on to another NHL team. Item One: Auston Matthews’ Season is Recognized by Other
It was an interesting 2020-21 NHL regular season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Honestly, I enjoyed the regular season more than any during the recent past. However, similar to most Maple Leafs’ fans, I found the postseason playoffs less than enjoyable ’ far less in fact. Given that, as a fan, because I’m tired for
In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I’ll look at Auston Matthews’ season as noted by his multiple nominations for awards after award. I’ll also note former Maple Leafs’ player Patrick Marleau’s recent award nomination. Finally, I’ll share some global news that I believe will likely impact the entire NHL and specifically
Everyone loves when a young, exciting star comes into the NHL and dominates right out of the gate. The Calder Memorial Trophy is given out each year to the league’s best rookie, with many winners later taking home other hardware, such as the Hart Memorial Trophy for the league’s most valuable player. So, which Calder
In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I look back to share some insight about how great Auston Matthews’ season really was. Second, I’ll look at Alex Galchenyuk’s season with the Maple Leafs. Related: Remembering Viktor Tikhonov: A Hockey Legend Finally, I’ll logically speculate about the kinds of contracts that players might
In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I’ll share recent news from the team that is emerging from the organization. Item One: Auston Matthews Is a Finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award. On June 2, the NHL announced the three finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award, and Auston Matthews was among them.
I’m stunned. Like every other Toronto Maple Leafs’ fan, it seems, I said all the right things. “It’s not over until it’s over.” Or, “We can’t take the Montreal Canadiens for granted.” Or, “Let’s not look past this series.” But, really, I did all those things. Related: Worst Trades in Oilers’ History Now, after a
The bottom line for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe this. Goals or no goals, his Maple Leafs’ duo of Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews is playing great hockey. Sometimes the score sheet doesn’t show everything. Related: More Maple Leafs Good News: Tavares, Kerfoot & Spezza The plain truth is that the Maple
The Toronto Maple Leafs lost in regulation for the first time since March 19, when the Montreal Canadiens beat them 4-2 last night in Montreal. It was the team’s first loss in almost a month. The team not only lost the game, but after the game there was an argument over whose fault the loss
In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I’ll spend some time looking at what was a record-setting day for a number of Maple Leafs’ players. I’ll also take a look at some of the highlights of the team’s 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on Sunday early evening and analyze what these
The Tampa Bay Lightning will have history on their side Wednesday. The Lightning open defense of their Stanley Cup championship when they host the Chicago Blackhawks at Amalie Arena in one of five games on opening night in the NHL. The Lightning comes into the game with the best season-opening points percentage in NHL history:
With the start of the 2020-21 NHL season just days away, teams around the league are finalizing their rosters while locking down what their lines and special teams will look like. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, this included one big change on the penalty kill, which is now featuring offensive phenom, Austin Matthews. Related: Maple
In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I’ll take a look at two Maple Leafs’ prospects ’ Dmitri Ovchinnikov and Mac Hollowell. Second, I’ll suggest why I believe Auston Matthew might be on the cusp of winning the Rocket Richard Trophy for goal-scoring. Related: Marner Could be Moved if Maple Leafs Decide
In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I’ll look at an interesting player sighting, even if it’s only a practice, that brings together both Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews ’ that’s noteworthy. I’ll then review Jonas Siegel’s article in The Athletic about Auston Matthews’ ability to carry his own line and speculate
In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I’ll take a look at what head coach Sheldon Keefe has to say about three of his young stars ’ Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner. I’ll also speculate about a rumor emerging from Russia that the KHL team Rodion Amirov is playing for
In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I’ll take a look at the one-year anniversary of Sheldon Keefe as the head coach of the Maple Leafs. I’ll also take a look at a ranking of top centers currently playing on different NHL teams. And, I’ll review where John Tavares and Auston Matthews
This morning in my email inbox, there was some good news for the world in general and for NHL hockey fans specifically. It’s been reported that now two companies (both Moderna and Pfizer) have created a vaccine that’s shown in clinical trials to be about 95% effective. As a result, there might be light at
In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I’ll take a look at rumors that the Maple Leafs have some interest in Zdeno Chara. I’ll then look at what players might be signed to the best contracts. Related: Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Chara, Barabanov & Team Leadership Finally, I’ll share my belief
It’s the offseason for who knows how much longer. When there are no games played, on-ice strategies to review, or player injuries to report, hockey writers move on to more expansive topics. Related: Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Matthews, Andersen, Marner, Brooks That’s exactly what happened on Friday when The Athletic’s Craig Custance published the
In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I take a look at Auston Matthews’ support for Movember. As well, I’ll look at some of the younger Maple Leafs players who are playing in Europe. Related: Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews Is Undergoing a Transformation Finally, I’ll look at how the team’s revamped
In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I’ll report on Willie O’Ree’s new book about his life and hockey. I’ll also update how two young Swedish prospects are currently doing in the Swedish Hockey League. Related: Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Dermott, Lehtonen & “Dr. Strangelove” I’ll also share the news that
The Toronto Maple Leafs have their 22-year-old center and cornerstone Auston Matthews locked in for four more years on a five-year, signing bonus-laden contract for $58.17 million that comes with an average annual cap hit of $11.634 million. Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette) Being the second-highest paid NHL player, behind
In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I’ll share the news that Auston Matthews came in second to Nathan MacKinnon in the voting for the Lady Byng Trophy. I’ll report another COVID-19 quarantine that impacts a Maple Leafs signee. Related: Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Further Thoughts About the Andersen Trade Finally,
In today’s NHL rumors, Bryan Little of the Winnipeg Jets comments on the possibility of him never playing hockey again. The Pittsburgh Penguins have made sweeping changes to their coaching staff, and in Toronto, Auston Matthews comments on the opinions from fans and media about how the Maple Leafs team is constructed. The Florida Panthers
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ playoff play-in series is upon us and there are still some burning questions surrounding the team coming in from Leafs Nation. As the team continues their series against the Columbus Blue Jackets, we’ll be diving into some playoff talk with the latest set of mail-in questions. Related: Maple Leafs’ Mailbag: Questioning
If history repeats, things don’t look good for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Last season the Columbus Blue Jackets played giant-killer during the first round of the playoffs when they swept the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning in four straight games. Similarly, last season the Maple Leafs lost their first playoff round for the third straight season.
July 21 saw the greatest player in National Hockey League history sign on to play for one of its most historic franchises. Plus, a franchise-altering player signed his first-ever professional contract and some new head coaches were hired. The Great One Opens on Broadway Wayne Gretzky signed with the New York Rangers on July 21,
Yesterday, during a 40-minute video conference call, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas was interviewed by reporters. One thing he was most pleased about was that when his troops reported back to Toronto, their fitness level was high. He noted that the organization ’ during every Zoom call they had with players ’ stressed
In today’s NHL rumor rundown, the Montreal Canadiens are about to sign an international prospect but got bad news when it comes to players testing positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that a couple of players are back and ready to join the team’s training camp which opens today. The Minnesota